---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 6444"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "6444"
heading: "Report to Congress"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/6444"
units:
  - "Chapter 73 — International Religious Freedom"
  - "Subchapter III — Presidential Actions"
  - "Part A — Targeted Responses to Violations of Religious Freedom Abroad"
---

# §6444. Report to Congress

- (a) **In general—** Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), not later than 90 days after the President decides to take action under [section 6441 of this title](/usc/22/6441.md) in response to [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16) and the President decides to take action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto) with respect to that country, or not later than 90 days after the President designates a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under [section 6442 of this title](/usc/22/6442.md), as the case may be, the President shall submit a report to Congress containing the following:
  - (1) **Identification of Presidential actions—** An identification of the Presidential action or actions described in paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto) to be taken with respect to the [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Description of violations—** A description of the violations giving rise to the Presidential action or actions to be taken.
  - (3) **Purpose of Presidential actions—** A description of the purpose of the Presidential action or actions.
  - (4) **Evaluation—**
    - (A) **Description—** An evaluation, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the [Ambassador at Large](/usc/22/6402.md?p=1), the [Commission](/usc/22/6402.md?p=5), the [Special Adviser](/usc/22/6402.md?p=14), the parties described in [section 6443(c)](/usc/22/6443.md?p=c) and (d) of this title, and whoever else the President deems appropriate, of—
      - (i) the impact upon the [foreign government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8);
      - (ii) the impact upon the population of the country;
      - (iii) the impact upon the United States economy and other interested parties; and
      - (iv) the impact on the advancement of United States interests in democracy, human rights, and security, and a description of policy tools being applied in the country, including programs that target democratic stability, economic growth, and counterterrorism.
    - (B) **Authority to withhold disclosure—** The President may withhold part or all of such evaluation from the public but shall provide the entire evaluation to Congress.
  - (5) **Statement of policy options—** A statement that noneconomic policy options designed to bring about cessation of the [particularly severe violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=13) have reasonably been exhausted, including the consultations required in [section 6443 of this title](/usc/22/6443.md).
  - (6) **Description of multilateral negotiations—** A description of multilateral negotiations sought or carried out, if appropriate and applicable.
- (b) **Delay in transmittal of report—** If, on or before the date that the President is required (but for this subsection) to submit a report under [subsection (a)](#a) to Congress, the President determines and certifies to Congress that a single, additional period of time not to exceed 90 days is necessary pursuant to section [6441(b)(3)](/usc/22/6441.md?p=b-3) or [6442(c)(3)](/usc/22/6442.md?p=c-3) of this title, then the President shall not be required to submit the report to Congress until the expiration of that period of time.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–292, title IV, § 404, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2805; Pub. L. 114–281, title III, § 303, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1435.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a)(4)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 114–281 added cl. (iv).